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Chu R, Wei Y, Liu J, Li B, Zhang J, Zhou Y, Du Y, Zhang Y. A Variant of the Sulfoglycolytic Transketolase Pathway for the Degradation of Sulfoquinovose into Sulfoacetate. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0061723. [PMID: 37404184 PMCID: PMC10370302 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00617-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Sulfoquinovose (SQ, 6-deoxy-6-sulfo-glucose) constitutes the polar head group of plant sulfolipids and is one of the most abundantly produced organosulfur compounds in nature. Degradation of SQ by bacterial communities contributes to sulfur recycling in many environments. Bacteria have evolved at least four mechanisms for glycolytic degradation of SQ, termed sulfoglycolysis, producing C3 sulfonate (dihydroxypropanesulfonate and sulfolactate) and C2 sulfonate (isethionate) by-products. These sulfonates are further degraded by other bacteria, leading to the mineralization of the sulfonate sulfur. The C2 sulfonate sulfoacetate is widespread in the environment and is also thought to be a product of sulfoglycolysis, although the mechanistic details are yet unknown. Here, we describe a gene cluster in an Acholeplasma sp., from a metagenome derived from deeply circulating subsurface aquifer fluids (GenBank accession no. QZKD01000037), encoding a variant of the recently discovered sulfoglycolytic transketolase (sulfo-TK) pathway that produces sulfoacetate instead of isethionate as a by-product. We report the biochemical characterization of a coenzyme A (CoA)-acylating sulfoacetaldehyde dehydrogenase (SqwD) and an ADP-forming sulfoacetate-CoA ligase (SqwKL), which collectively catalyze the oxidation of the transketolase product sulfoacetaldehyde into sulfoacetate, coupled with ATP formation. A bioinformatics study revealed the presence of this sulfo-TK variant in phylogenetically diverse bacteria, adding to the variety of mechanisms by which bacteria metabolize this ubiquitous sulfo-sugar. IMPORTANCE Many bacteria utilize environmentally widespread C2 sulfonate sulfoacetate as a sulfur source, and the disease-linked human gut sulfate- and sulfite-reducing bacteria can use it as a terminal electron receptor for anaerobic respiration generating toxic H2S. However, the mechanism of sulfoacetate formation is unknown, although it has been proposed that sulfoacetate originates from bacterial degradation of sulfoquinovose (SQ), the polar head group of sulfolipids present in all green plants. Here, we describe a variant of the recently discovered sulfoglycolytic transketolase (sulfo-TK) pathway. Unlike the regular sulfo-TK pathway that produces isethionate, our biochemical assays with recombinant proteins demonstrated that a CoA-acylating sulfoacetaldehyde dehydrogenase (SqwD) and an ADP-forming sulfoacetate-CoA ligase (SqwKL) in this variant pathway collectively catalyze the oxidation of the transketolase product sulfoacetaldehyde into sulfoacetate, coupled with ATP formation. A bioinformatics study revealed the presence of this sulfo-TK variant in phylogenetically diverse bacteria and interpreted the widespread existence of sulfoacetate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoxing Chu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Modern Drug Delivery & High-Efficiency, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Department of Chemistry, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yifeng Wei
- Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jiayi Liu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Modern Drug Delivery & High-Efficiency, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Boran Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Modern Drug Delivery & High-Efficiency, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jianing Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Modern Drug Delivery & High-Efficiency, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Modern Drug Delivery & High-Efficiency, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yunfei Du
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Modern Drug Delivery & High-Efficiency, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory for Modern Drug Delivery & High-Efficiency, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Department of Chemistry, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
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Zeng W, Guo L, Xu S, Chen J, Zhou J. High-Throughput Screening Technology in Industrial Biotechnology. Trends Biotechnol 2020; 38:888-906. [PMID: 32005372 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2019] [Revised: 01/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Based on the development of automatic devices and rapid assay methods, various high-throughput screening (HTS) strategies have been established for improving the performance of industrial microorganisms. We discuss the most significant factors that can improve HTS efficiency, including the construction of screening libraries with high diversity and the use of new detection methods to expand the search range and highlight target compounds. We also summarize applications of HTS for enhancing the performance of industrial microorganisms. Current challenges and potential improvements to HTS in industrial biotechnology are discussed in the context of rapid developments in synthetic biology, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence. Rational integration will be an important driving force for constructing more efficient industrial microorganisms with wider applications in biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weizhu Zeng
- National Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Likun Guo
- National Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; Jiangsu Provisional Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Sha Xu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; Jiangsu Provisional Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Jian Chen
- National Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; Jiangsu Provisional Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Jingwen Zhou
- National Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; Jiangsu Provisional Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
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